Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can we help you?

We know that you probably have a lot of questions about our practice, your oral health, and dentistry in general. At Orchards Dental, we are dedicated to patient education. This means that no question is ever silly, so don't hesitate to ask!

Our dental team will always make time to listen to and address your questions and concerns, and you are welcome to call us or send us an email as well.

We've collected a series of questions we often hear. Take a look and see if your question has been answered below. If it's not here – or you'd like more information – just let us know and we'll be happy to help!

At Orchards Dental, one of our goals is to help you afford your dental care. We understand that you may have concerns about the cost of the care you need, so we offer multiple plans or options and work with you to determine the option that will best meet your needs.

In-house Financing

We can offer in-house financing options for certain situations so that payments for services can be made over a few months rather than all at once. This helps many of our patients better factor regular dental care into their budget – and even emergency dental care.

Third-Party Financing

If you need to spread out your payments over a greater period of time, there is a solution for that as well. We can help you coordinate third-party financing, which allows you to schedule payments out over several months or even years. We work with Healthsmart Financial Services and many patients have taken advantage of this great financing option to enable them to proceed with treatment!

Dental Cost Transparency

If you ever have any concerns about the cost of your care, please let us know. Before performing any treatment, we’ll go over the expected out-of-pocket costs so you know exactly what to expect, and we’ll be happy to help you plan for it if needed.

Avoiding routine or other necessary dental treatments lead to bigger – and often more expensive – problems further down the road. We’d like to help you avoid this, so don’t hesitate to talk to us about your financial questions.

Comfort

Dental anxiety is a common issue. We want to help our patients feel comfortable and confident at every visit with us, so we've added some features to our office that we think you'll appreciate.

Amenities at Orchards Dental

Sedation – We offer both nitrous oxide and oral sedation. Let us know if you think you could benefit from sedation dentistry.

Neck pillows and blankets – We'll help you feel comfortable and cozy throughout your visit.

Topical anesthetic – If you ask anyone what they hate about going to the dentist, they'll probably tell you the shots! Applying topical anesthetic prior to a shot helps begin the numbing process and makes the shot more comfortable. A topical anesthetic can also be used during cleanings if your teeth are sensitive or you find cleanings uncomfortable.

Invisalign

The Invisalign treatment system involves a series of clear aligners that sequentially move your teeth to proper alignment and straighten your teeth. Each successive aligner is slightly different from the one before and is precisely shaped to be slightly closer to your ideal smile.

Invisalign Process

You are given a series of these aligners and approximately every two weeks you switch to a new aligner. Each aligner places a little bit of force on your teeth in a precise and controlled way to move them into correct alignment. As treatment progresses, you will notice your teeth moving closer and closer to the smile that you desire.

With Invisalign, you are given a series of clear aligners that move the teeth over time. You switch to a new clear aligner approximately every two weeks. Every time you switch to a new aligner, you will feel some pressure on some of the teeth and the teeth may feel slightly tender for the first few days, but the tenderness goes away quite quickly. Most people would say that Invisalign is not painful, but it does cause slight tenderness of the teeth initially.

There are many advantages to Invisalign. Because the Invisalign aligners are clear, many people will not be able to tell that you are straightening your teeth. The forces placed on your teeth are light, meaning there is usually not much discomfort with treatment. The forces placed on your teeth are also precise, so over the course of treatment, your teeth will move into their planned positions, resulting in the smile that you want.

Clear Aligners

The aligners may be removed when you are eating, making them more comfortable compared to traditional metal braces, as you will not have problems with food getting stuck between brackets since there are no metal brackets involved with Invisalign. You are also able to take off the aligners for oral hygiene so you can brush and floss just like normal. For minor movements, or if you only have mild crowding or spacing, you may be able to finish treatment in just under two months. At Orchards Dental, we offer complimentary Invisalign consultations. Give us a call today, we’d love to help design your smile!

Yes! With Invisalign technology, it is possible to straighten your teeth without wearing braces. Invisalign is a system of clear aligners that fit comfortably over your teeth and move your teeth into alignment. Because the aligners are clear, most people probably won’t even know you are straightening your teeth. The aligners can be easily taken off when necessary, such as when you are eating, so they do not interfere with your day to day activities.

How Invisalign Can Help

Invisalign aligners are able to treat a wide range of crowded and misaligned teeth. For people with minor misalignment, treatment can be quite quick, and take only a few months. For more complicated cases, treatment can often be completed in a year or two, which is about the same time frame normally needed for tooth alignment with braces.

Call us today for a consultation and we will help you determine if Invisalign is a good option for you!

Cosmetic Dentistry

There are numerous options available for improving the appearance of your smile including teeth whitening (teeth bleaching), veneers, crowns, gum positioning therapies, and orthodontics.

Dental Veneers

Veneers and crowns are made of durable porcelain and can be made to match the colour of your other teeth, or can be made in whatever shade of white you want. If you want a whiter smile, they can help accomplish that. Veneers and crowns can also be used to change the length of your teeth (eg. make your teeth longer) or change the shape of your teeth. They can help restore your smile to the youthful appearance you had when you were younger, or to create a whole new smile for you.

Gum Contouring

Gum positioning therapies can be used to make the gums around your teeth symmetrical, for a more pleasing smile. They can also be done to reduce the "gumminess" of your smile if you feel that you have a gummy smile that shows too much gum when smiling. On the other hand, if you have gum recession and would like the gums around your teeth positioned in a more healthy, natural position, treatment can be done for that as well to restore your gums to where they used to be.

Teeth Straightening Options

Orthodontics can be done to align and straighten your teeth. There are different orthodontic options available such as Invisalign, and braces.

Any of the options above can be used alone or in combination with other options to help you achieve the smile you desire. Treatment can also be done over a period of time rather than all at once to help keep the cost within your budget.

Children's Dentistry

The Canadian Dental Association recommends that children have their first dental appointment six months after the eruption of their first tooth or by their first birthday. This first visit is often referred to as a “happy visit,” and the goal is simply to take a quick look to confirm that development is normal, introduce your child to the dentist and the dental office, and discuss early childhood dental care with you, the parents.

Even though your child likely won’t remember this first visit, it helps to introduce the dental office as a normal, familiar, and safe place to be. Dental anxiety is a common problem, and we want to help your child develop a positive attitude toward dentistry as early as possible!

How often should a child see the dentist

Like adults, children should typically see a dentist every six months for a regular check-up and cleaning. If your child has any specific dental concerns – such as a high risk of cavities, we may recommend that he or she come in more frequently.

We accommodate family dental care by setting aside time so you can schedule your family for a block appointment instead of having to make multiple visits. This helps to simplify your schedule and improves communication.

Cleanings

At your first visit, we will perform a thorough examination so we can begin to get to know you and your oral health history. You can expect the appointment to take about 1.5 hours, and it will include:

A comprehensive check-up with x-rays

A complimentary oral cancer screening

Intraoral photos, which allow you to see your teeth up close so we can show you exactly what we see

A professional cleaning based on your specific needs

Polishing for beautiful, shiny teeth

A fluoride treatment to help strengthen your enamel and protect your teeth from cavities

Questions on Oral Health

Our dentists will ask you a number of questions to learn more about both your oral and your overall health. It has been said that the mouth acts like a mirror, reflecting your overall health, and we want as complete an understanding of your health as possible.

Scientists have observed that there is a link between your dental health and certain systemic conditions. If you have heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, or any other chronic health concern, please let us know so that we can plan your treatment accordingly.

Personalised Dental Care

One of the most exciting parts of your first visit is the opportunity to learn more about you so we can begin to build a trusting professional relationship. We want to provide personalised dental care that reflects your needs, so just let us know what works for you!

Gum Disease Treatment

If you have been diagnosed with gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, it is a serious problem that should be addressed. Untreated gum disease will result in your teeth becoming looser over time as the bone around your teeth shrinks away, and eventually the teeth will fall out. Gum disease is a condition of constant (chronic) infection and inflammation in the gums and bone of your mouth.

Beyond the obvious effects of gum disease on your teeth, research is now showing that gum disease may be linked to the rest of the body more significantly than previously thought. Gum disease has been correlated with other systemic bodily conditions such as heart problems and systemic diseases of inflammation. Health care providers are now realizing that gum disease must be treated and managed as a part of helping people achieve overall bodily health.

Gum Disease Treatment

At Orchards Dental, we offer a variety of gum disease treatment options. Along with the traditional methods of scaling and root planing to keep plaque and calculus off the teeth and away from the gums, we also offer other treatment modalities such as targeted antibiotic regimens that help to curtail bacterial colonization. Salivary samples can be taken to identify the specific bacteria associated with your gum disease. From there, we can use specific antibiotics that will be most effective. Antibacterial rinses and special formulations of antibiotic capsules can also be locally placed in the areas of your mouth with the most bacterial colonization. At our Edmonton dental clinic, we will work with you personally to create a treatment plan that best targets the type of gum disease you have.

*EMERGENCY Dental Care*

Dental Emergency Care

If you have an emergency, please give us a call. Dental pain is never normal, and we want to help relieve your pain and restore your dental health. We will do our best to accommodate dental emergencies, whether you are a patient of record or new to our practice. If you have a dental emergency, we will do our best to see you the same day you call, but even if this is not an option, we will still try our hardest to get you in within the next few days.

We intentionally set aside blocks of time in our schedule to help accommodate urgent dental needs. When you are having a dental emergency, you need to be seen sooner rather than later!

Schedule Your First Dental Appointment

Even if you are not having a dental emergency, we are usually able to get you in soon for your first appointment as a new patient. Your entire family is welcome at our practice, and we offer family block appointments so you can all be seen at the same time. We also offer extended hours to help accommodate school and work schedules.

One of our goals at Orchards Dental is to make it easy for you to get the dental care you need when you need it. Just give us a call to inquire!

Root Canals

There is usually a lot of fear associated with root canals, but improvements in dental technology have made this procedure much more comfortable for patients. With modern technology, root canals are often painless as we now have stronger anesthetics and methods to eliminate pain compared to in the past. Technologies have also made it so root canals can be done faster and more predictably, so you don’t need to spend as much time in the dental chair.

Sedation Dentistry Available

At Orchards Dental, we also offer sedation options to patients who feel they need a little extra help to reduce their fear. We are committed to providing you with the most comfortable appointment we can, and we offer numerous comfort options to make your visit as pleasant as it can be.

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is safe and numerous studies have been done to prove the safety of teeth whitening. Although there is often sensitivity and some gum tenderness that people notice when whitening their teeth, the effects are transient and will go away on their own with time.

Teeth Whitening Options

There are a few different options for whitening your teeth. Many kinds of toothpaste nowadays advertise that they help to whiten teeth—and they do—but the effect is usually very limited and does not produce a noticeable enough change in teeth colour to satisfy most people. Strips and adhesive whitening products are also available and can be bought over the counter from many stores. These have proved to be effective and some people like to use them. The higher-end products are customized whitening solutions that can be made by your dentist. These products fit in trays customized for your teeth, and different strengths of the whitening product are available. The customized products tend to produce the biggest change in teeth whiteness and the effects tend to last longer. In addition, if your teeth become less white after a few years, you can use the same customized trays to whiten your teeth again. Simply add some whitening gel to the trays and you can begin whitening your teeth right away.

Tooth Replacement

There are a number of options available for replacement of missing teeth including dental implants, bridges, partial dentures, and complete dentures. The cost of treatment depends on which option or options you choose but can range from a few hundred to thousands. If you have insurance, the cost to you can be significantly less depending on your coverage and the cost to you may even be zero. To make it easier for our patients to get treatment, we offer payment plans and many payment options. In addition, our team can help you to phase out your treatment over a period of time, rather than having it done all at once so that you can fit the cost of treatment into your budget.

Cost of Dental Implants

To discuss specific pricing for your situation and how costs can be spread out over time, feel free to call our office or to book a consultation appointment with us. If you need extensive treatment done such as a full mouth rehabilitation or multiple implants, treatment and payment may even be spread out over years, if desired, to keep costs manageable.

When a tooth is lost, changes occur to the other teeth, the gums and the bone in the area adjacent to the tooth. Teeth nearby will begin to drift into space previously occupied by the extracted tooth, and your overall bite pattern may change as a result. The gums and bone in the area will begin to shrink away, resulting in a loss of bone in the area.

Bone Grafting

To prevent the above consequences from happening, it is recommended that the tooth be saved, if possible. If it is not possible, it is best to replace the tooth soon after it is extracted to prevent other teeth from drifting into place. At Orchards Dental, we also provide a number of different bone grafting services to help maintain the bone even if you have to lose a tooth. Bone grafting services include socket grafts (socket preservation), ridge grafts, and sinus grafts.

If you have other questions, feel free to call our Edmonton dental office today and we would be happy to discuss any questions or treatment options with you!

Tooth-Coloured Fillings

It is not necessary in all cases to have silver fillings replaced by white fillings. If old silver fillings in your mouth are not causing problems and they do not have decay or cracks developing around or under them, it is fine to have them in your mouth. However, often times old silver fillings do develop decay around them. Other times, they develop cracks adjacent to the filling which should be treated. Silver fillings should be assessed on a case by case basis to determine if they should be replaced or not.

Appearance of Silver Fillings

If you simply do not like the appearance of your silver fillings, or have some other concern with them and want to have them replaced, we can help with that. At Orchards Dental, we can remove all your old silver fillings and replace them with white fillings.

At our office, we no longer place silver fillings and only use the white filling materials. Feel free to call us and discuss any concerns you may have about your existing fillings and we will help you address any concerns you may have!

Dental Implants

It is easy to care for your dental implants. Since the dental implants emerge through the gums like your natural teeth, brushing and flossing around the implant, just like around a natural tooth, is important. There are many successful ways of brushing your teeth.

Proper Toothbrushing Techniques

One method is known as the modified bass brushing technique, but really any method of brushing that is effective at keeping your natural teeth clean will also be effective for cleaning your dental implants. Flossing is also important to prevent bacteria from accumulating around the sides of your dental implants.

Dental Implant Care

Other additional cleaning devices such as a Waterpik can also be helpful in cleaning around your dental implants. Of course, it is also important to come for a regular dental check-up and cleaning appointments to ensure that your dental implants are staying healthy. If you would like a personalized care regimen for your dental implants, we would love to assess your specific case and see what dental products would be best for helping you keep your dental implants healthy!

When you lose a tooth, there are many possible changes that can happen in your mouth. Teeth nearby the missing tooth will begin to drift into the space, resulting in a change in your bite. Teeth opposing the missing tooth may erupt into the space, resulting in a long, over-erupted tooth.

Importance of Replacing Missing Teeth

The supporting structures of the jaw (the gums and the bone) will begin to shrink away in the area. The remaining teeth in your mouth will have more stresses placed on them whenever you eat, since they now have to bear the chewing forces that used to be borne by a greater number of teeth. As a result, it is possible that the remaining teeth may develop cracks and other structural problems sooner than they would have. To prevent these problems from happening, it is important to replace missing teeth as soon as possible.

Of all tooth replacement options, dental implants are the most aesthetically similar to natural teeth. The “root” or “post” portion of the dental implant sits in the bone of your jaws, just as the root of a natural tooth. Furthermore, the dental implant emerges through the gums, just as a natural tooth does. The part of a dental implant visible above the gums is made of a white porcelain material that mimics the appearance of a natural tooth, and in most cases, people cannot tell that you have a dental implant!

As long as you are medically healthy, dental implants can be an option for you. There is no age where you are too old for dental implants as long as you are healthy. Dental implants can be placed in any area of the mouth to replace any missing tooth as long as there is sufficient bone in the area. In cases where there is not enough bone, procedures can be done to grow more bone in the area prior to getting dental implants done.

Tooth Replacement Option

Dental implants are a very popular option for tooth replacement these days because they are usually the best way to replace your teeth most naturally. Compared to a bridge where adjacent teeth need to be modified, dental implants can be placed without any modifications on your adjacent teeth. Implants are also unable to develop cavities and do not ever need root canals.

If you have more questions about how dental implants can help you, call us today! We’d love to answer any questions you have and help you determine if they are a good option for you.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

Sleep apnea is a serious health condition that requires treatment but many people avoid getting treatment because they do not want to wear a mask to sleep. The good news is that there are options besides the CPAP for treating sleep apnea. Mild to moderate sleep apnea and even cases of severe sleep apnea can be treated with oral appliances (mandibular advancement device). The way the oral appliance works is it positions your lower jaw (mandible) forward, which positions the soft tissues of your airway forward, resulting in a wider airway and more airflow through your airway.

Oral Appliance Therapy

Most people with obstructive sleep apnea are candidates for oral appliance therapy. After getting treatment for sleep apnea, many people report increased energy and an increased ability to concentrate. Besides these, sleep apnea is important to treat because if untreated, people are at an increased risk of heart attack and stroke and other health complications such as high blood pressure and metabolic syndrome.

As an additional benefit, the oral appliances often also eliminate snoring, making sleep more comfortable both for you and your bed partner. Some people will opt to get an oral appliance just to treat snoring. In these cases, the appliance is often called a snore guard.

Call us today for a consultation and we will work with you to see if oral appliance therapy is a good option for you!